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| Beneath the pomp and pageantry of the diamond jubilee | Beneath the pomp and pageantry of the diamond jubilee |
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| Michael White (Silly hats in the drizzle, 4 June) is certainly right to say that the Queen is "severe mistress of the rare but radiant smile". But, as far as I could see, her ability to show her appreciation of magnificent frozen, drenched singers, exhausted oarsmen and women, and soaked crowds of all ages with a little warm enthusiastic clapping was non-existent. Her only excited enthusiasm appeared to be when an articulated War Horse galloped across a concrete ledge. "The Queen loves horses," said the commentator. Her loving appreciation of her people is far less in evidence. Can we cut through all this talk every 10 years of our Queen being "just like us", and recognise she makes a useful constitutional figurehead, prepared to stand in the cold for a long time, but not a natural aunt or grandma to us all. Yes, Michael, "No one could possibly accuse Her Majesty of playing to the gallery". Robert Bailey Oxford | Michael White (Silly hats in the drizzle, 4 June) is certainly right to say that the Queen is "severe mistress of the rare but radiant smile". But, as far as I could see, her ability to show her appreciation of magnificent frozen, drenched singers, exhausted oarsmen and women, and soaked crowds of all ages with a little warm enthusiastic clapping was non-existent. Her only excited enthusiasm appeared to be when an articulated War Horse galloped across a concrete ledge. "The Queen loves horses," said the commentator. Her loving appreciation of her people is far less in evidence. Can we cut through all this talk every 10 years of our Queen being "just like us", and recognise she makes a useful constitutional figurehead, prepared to stand in the cold for a long time, but not a natural aunt or grandma to us all. Yes, Michael, "No one could possibly accuse Her Majesty of playing to the gallery". Robert Bailey Oxford |
| • One image from Sunday's jubilee pageant embodied for me the essence of the British spirit. It was not the graciousness of the royal family nor the Thames transformed into a Canaletto canvas, nor what the BBC commentators repeatedly referred to as the "iconic" landmarks of London. It was the enduring image of the members of the Royal College of Music chamber choir standing atop the Royal Philharmonic barge, unprotected from the lashing rain, thinly clad in concert attire, their hair bedraggled, singing out with all their hearts and souls. If there is such a thing as the British spirit, in my mind it lives through our art and culture, not our pomp and pageant. Kevin Nash London | • One image from Sunday's jubilee pageant embodied for me the essence of the British spirit. It was not the graciousness of the royal family nor the Thames transformed into a Canaletto canvas, nor what the BBC commentators repeatedly referred to as the "iconic" landmarks of London. It was the enduring image of the members of the Royal College of Music chamber choir standing atop the Royal Philharmonic barge, unprotected from the lashing rain, thinly clad in concert attire, their hair bedraggled, singing out with all their hearts and souls. If there is such a thing as the British spirit, in my mind it lives through our art and culture, not our pomp and pageant. Kevin Nash London |
| • Polly Toynbee (Comment, 1 June) writes that the royals lack "intellectual curiosity or originality". Yet two of the living family somehow qualified for the Order of Merit, for "exceptionally meritorious service" in the armed forces or "towards the advancement of art, literature and science". So Philip and Charles are up there with Florence Nightingale, John Cockroft, Isaiah Berlin, Edward Elgar, Dorothy Hodgkin, Henry Moore. The Queen, who personally awards the OM, no doubt chose her husband and son with Hunt-like impartiality. Adam Sowan Reading | • Polly Toynbee (Comment, 1 June) writes that the royals lack "intellectual curiosity or originality". Yet two of the living family somehow qualified for the Order of Merit, for "exceptionally meritorious service" in the armed forces or "towards the advancement of art, literature and science". So Philip and Charles are up there with Florence Nightingale, John Cockroft, Isaiah Berlin, Edward Elgar, Dorothy Hodgkin, Henry Moore. The Queen, who personally awards the OM, no doubt chose her husband and son with Hunt-like impartiality. Adam Sowan Reading |
| • David Cameron was unwise to be quite so presumptuous during his interview about the monarchy. Vast numbers of the population fail to "identify" with the Queen in the way he feels we do. While not standing alongside the anti-monarchy group – and recognising the royals as a family who have experienced many of the ups and downs that the rest of the population have – I work on a daily basis with families who would fail to identify with even Her Majesty's lowest-paid servants due to the level of poverty they experience. It did a lot to confirm the distance between the prime minister and the real world. Joyce Hawthorn Kendal, Cumbria | • David Cameron was unwise to be quite so presumptuous during his interview about the monarchy. Vast numbers of the population fail to "identify" with the Queen in the way he feels we do. While not standing alongside the anti-monarchy group – and recognising the royals as a family who have experienced many of the ups and downs that the rest of the population have – I work on a daily basis with families who would fail to identify with even Her Majesty's lowest-paid servants due to the level of poverty they experience. It did a lot to confirm the distance between the prime minister and the real world. Joyce Hawthorn Kendal, Cumbria |
| • I'm sorry Gareth Morgan (Letters, 4 June) thought it necessary to go all the way to France. He should merely have come to south Wales. Whilst everyone seems happy to have an extra bank holiday, what little bunting there is appears to be marking an additional St David's Day. In support of this observation, David Murray's letter mentions celebrations in the villages and towns of England, without a single mention of Wales. Stephen Kay Abergavenny | • I'm sorry Gareth Morgan (Letters, 4 June) thought it necessary to go all the way to France. He should merely have come to south Wales. Whilst everyone seems happy to have an extra bank holiday, what little bunting there is appears to be marking an additional St David's Day. In support of this observation, David Murray's letter mentions celebrations in the villages and towns of England, without a single mention of Wales. Stephen Kay Abergavenny |
| • It is sad that the BBC has made a dangerous political decision by becoming the cheerleader for monarchy. Added to this is the sycophantic and grovelling style adopted by the presenters – and, much to our shame, some were Welsh. Wyn Thomas Swansea | • It is sad that the BBC has made a dangerous political decision by becoming the cheerleader for monarchy. Added to this is the sycophantic and grovelling style adopted by the presenters – and, much to our shame, some were Welsh. Wyn Thomas Swansea |
| • On my first day as a junior reporter, 64 years ago, my boss warned me: "If you ever write 'Rain fails to dampen the spirits of', I shall sack you on the spot." Barry Hewlett-Davies Brighton | • On my first day as a junior reporter, 64 years ago, my boss warned me: "If you ever write 'Rain fails to dampen the spirits of', I shall sack you on the spot." Barry Hewlett-Davies Brighton |
| • At least none of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Windsors were checking their mobile phones or tweeting (wet peasants totes hilair) while watching the pageant. Ruth Eversley Oldham | • At least none of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Windsors were checking their mobile phones or tweeting (wet peasants totes hilair) while watching the pageant. Ruth Eversley Oldham |
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